Can we trade Tulsa, SMU and some other boring schools for Louisville right now?

I want Lamar Jackson.

I need No. 3 Louisville in Tom Herman's stadium pronto, and a true football game worthy of the No. 6 team in America.

Beating the heck out of confused David Boren, overrated Oklahoma and the underwhelming Big 12 feels like it was forever ago.

It's time the Cougars played somebody real.

Connecticut obviously didn't count. And let's be honest: By the time it was 28-7 Greg Ward at halftime, every well-educated UH fanatic in this city was pulling up the Coogs' schedule on a cellphone, then scrolling to a Nov. 17 showdown that can't come soon enough.

While we wait for Jackson vs. Ward on Cullen Boulevard, UH did its takeover thing again Thursday night on national TV.

Boring in a quiet first quarter, as TDECU Stadium slowly filled up and prying LSU spies were barred from the gates.

Then Ward started skating and flying, Todd Orlando's defense began blasting away and a national investigation started asking hard questions, primarily wondering how in the world the Huskies handed Herman his one and only loss a season ago.

It was a Heisman-like 454 total yards and five touchdowns for Ward, who shook off a breath-erasing hit and made UConn linebacker Junior Joseph - 2 inches taller, 60 pounds heavier - look like a trash-talking fool.

"I frigging love it. I love it," said Herman, referring to his senior quarterback's heart and fight. "The guy is a competitive dude. … His fire and energy is very palpable this season."

It was 42-14 Cougars and Herman was 18-1 since he started igniting the local faithful and converting a skeptical nation.

Past, present glory

Andre Ware's old red jersey was for sale above the stadium's first level. A photo of Case Keenum in collegiate motion could be had for the right price.

If this never-lose thing keeps up for Herman, UH (5-0) will start selling out its conference games a week early - 40,873 finally packed the place - and there'll soon be a statue of the hottest coach in America just outside downtown Houston.

As the Coogs clobbered the scoreboard and the night sky went dark on a perfect late September weather night, I kept looking over at the city's skyline.

My main thought: This is such a perfect place for Herman - if UH can keep him.

The student section runs 10 parts deep, with half of the screamers standing an hour before kickoff.

Herman's young men wore huge chains around their necks, swaying before their admirers pregame with all the swagger of Peach Bowl winners.

Hip-hop boomed out of sideline speakers while cranked-up Coogs danced on the field during warm-ups.

This feel, this scene, this culture that keeps growing?

Herman created it all.

But there's a lunatic asylum in Baton Rouge, La., in search of the next Nick Saban and USC always needs a coach.

And there's Tulane and Central Florida on the Cougars' schedule; Lamar and Texas State have been destroyed. And I wonder: Is this enough?

Not to win the American Athletic Conference again. Not to potentially be 10-0 when Bobby Petrino rolls up on his ride.

But is this enough to ignore the SEC's holy glory, gaudy boosters who'll pay for everything and anything, and the fact UH will basically have to go 13-0 every year to even glance at a playoff spot, while simply being a strong Power Five school guarantees an annual look.

And here's the irony of another as-expected, weeknight Coogs slaughter. It's just another easy conference win for UH. It's more money in the bank for any powerhouse program that wants to come after Herman with a blank check and the keys to a kingdom.

We also went through all that last year and the H-Town Takeover creator is still a proud Houstonian.

So just keep winning, baby.

"The guys are understanding that it's important for the morale of the team and the confidence of the team to finish games," Herman said. "I like where our guys are headed in terms of that maturity level."

Until holiday season, it won't get any bigger than facing one of the only amateur athletes in the nation who's outplaying Ward.

The Coogs were supposed to be 4-1. They're undefeated again, rolling through the soft stuff like No. 1 on ice.

If UH hasn't dropped a game when Louisville shows up and the takeover takes down Jackson?

I'll never complain about the Cougars' schedule again. And Herman will be able to have almost any job in America - or just keep building his statue at UH.

Brian T. Smith is a sports columnist for the Houston Chronicle. He has won multiple Associated Press Sports Editors awards and been honored by numerous journalism organizations. Smith was a Houston Texans beat writer for the Chronicle from 2013-15 and an Astros beat writer from 2012-13. The New Orleans-area native previously covered the NBA's Utah Jazz (The Salt Lake Tribune) and Portland Trail Blazers (The Columbian), among other beats. He is the author of the book Liftoff, which documented the Astros' rebuild and 2017 World Series championship.